The idea for a Sunday School at Bridgeport was born one afternoon in 1939 as Sol and Martha Warkentin and Martha's uncle, Henry Hamm, were riding through the Bridgeport area. They saw the Farmer's Union Hall and thought it would be a good place
to meet. They began contacting people and before long a group was meeting every Sunday.

     In 1944 Mr. and Mrs. Dave Schultz took over the leadership of the group at which time it became affiliated with the American Sunday School Union. The ASSU area missionaries at that time were Mr. and Mrs. Peter Becker.

    Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dyck came from Dallas to lead the group from 1945 to 1950, and then Sol and Martha Warkentin returned
until the Lord called them elsewhere in 1959. Meetings were held in the Bridgeport Elementary School when the community hall was torn down.

     Otto and Apphia Barnell assumed leadership of the Bridgeport group in 1959. It was during the Barnell's time with us, that we began discussing and praying over the possibility of our own building. In August, 1967 Apphia was called home to the Lord, and
in her memory a building fund was established.

     Mrs. Esther Wiens donated five acres of land for the building. The ground breaking ceremonies took place on May 5, 1968 with Rev. and Mrs. Merle Wilson, ASSU Missionaries, presiding. Much of the building was done by our own members and by a retired builder, Mr. Walt Collingham. Dr. I.D. Bartell loaned the money to buy materials. On January 7, 1968 the name Bridgeport Community Chapel was adopted. Continuing to meet in the elementary school, our attendance fluctuated from ten to thirty people, but with
the Lord's guidance and Dr. Bartell's generosity, the building continued to go up. When Mr. Barnell left, Jacob Warkentin, as
Assistant Superintendent, took over the leadership of the group.

     We met for the first time in the chapel on Easter Sunday morning, April 11, 1971. (The photo below shows a current view of the
back side of the original building.)  Shortly afterward the Lord led Mark and Doris Davis to take over the leadership. With Davis'
loving guidance and encouragement from the Wilsons we began to think and pray about having regular church services besides just Sunday School classes.

     Our prayers were answered when in the summer of 1974 the Lord brought Rev. Richard Voth and his family to us. The Lord has greatly enriched and blessed us through Richard's ministry. Our attendance has grown to an average of 45 to 50 each Sunday.
We have added young peoples meetings, Bible studies, and Sunday Evening Services. The Sunday School is now led by Supt.
Jim Barnard.                           

                          This original chapel history was shared by Mary Wiens and her mother for the chapel dedication on June 13, 1976:​​​

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